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Recent Advances in Phototrophic Prokaryotes pp 15–29Cite as

The Phototrophic Consortium “Chlorochromatium aggregatum” – A Model for Bacterial Heterologous Multicellularity

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 675))

Abstract

Phototrophic consortia currently represent the most highly developed interspecific association between prokaryotes and consist of green sulfur bacterial epibionts which surround a central, motile, chemotrophic bacterium. Several independent experimental findings indicate that a rapid signal transfer occurs between the epibionts and the central bacterium. First, the cell division of the partner bacteria occurs in a highly coordinated fashion. Second, consortia accumulate scotophobotactically in the light, whereby the central bacterium confers motility to the consortium and the epibionts act as light sensors. Third, the organic carbon uptake of the central bacterium seems to be controlled by the epibiont. A decade ago, a laboratory culture of the phototrophic consortium “Chlorochromatium aggregatum” could be established and maintained. Using “C. aggregatum,” recent genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies have started to unravel the molecular basis of prokaryotic heterologous multicellularity in this model system.

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Acknowledgments

Several motivated students have participated in our research on phototrophic consortia: Jürgen Fröstl, Jens Glaeser, Kajetan Vogl, Martina Schlickenrieder, Martina Müller, Birgit Kanzler, Kristina Pfannes, Katharina Hütz, Anne Bayer, Dörte Dibbern, and Johannes Müller. Their contributions were decisive for the success of the project. Support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grants Ov20/3-1, Ov20/3-2, Ov20/3-3, Ov20/10-1, Ov20/10-2) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bereich Mikrobiologie, Department Biologie I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Großhadernerstrasse 2-4, D-82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany

    Jörg Overmann

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  1. Jörg Overmann
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Correspondence to Jörg Overmann .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dépt. de microbiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, H3C 3J7, Canada

    Patrick C. Hallenbeck

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Overmann, J. (2010). The Phototrophic Consortium “Chlorochromatium aggregatum” – A Model for Bacterial Heterologous Multicellularity. In: Hallenbeck, P. (eds) Recent Advances in Phototrophic Prokaryotes. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 675. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1528-3_2

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